Engineering properties of granitic soils and rocks of Penang Island, Malaysia

Abstract

The granitic rocks of Penang Island can be divided into two types, namely Type I (Sg. Ara) and Type II (Bt. Bendera), based on differences in age, mineralogy and texture of the rocks. These two types of granites and the soils derived from them exhibit soil mechanics, soil chemistry and rock mechanics properties which are rather different. Among the apparent differences: granitic soil I possesses high dispersion potential, while the dispersion potential for granitic soil II is low. Granite Type II shows strengthihardness which are higher compared to Granite Type 1. Nevertheless, there are also some similarities in the properties mentioned between the two types of granites.